Design Director – Large scale Corrections / Justice Sector
Based Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane – Interstate & NZ Travel
The Opportunity
A career-defining opportunity has arisen for an accomplished Design Director
to lead the design and delivery of a major construction project in the corrections sector. This is a high-profile role interfacing at the most senior levels both internally and externally, requiring exceptional stakeholder management skills and a proven track record in complex, large-scale justice or prison facility projects.
The Role
Reporting to the Executive Leadership Team, you will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end design process, from bid / concept through to delivery, ensuring alignment with operational requirements, compliance standards, and project milestones. You will represent the business at an executive level with state and federal government stakeholders in Australia and New Zealand, and will regularly travel interstate and internationally to manage key design interfaces.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the full design lifecycle for a major corrections facility project.
- Provide strategic oversight to design teams, consultants, and partners to ensure project excellence.
- Foster collaborative relationships with internal executives, government bodies, and key stakeholders.
- Drive compliance with statutory and operational requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
- Ensure innovative, functional, and cost-effective design outcomes within program and budget constraints.
You are a senior design leader with a strong portfolio in the delivery of corrections, justice, or high-security facilities. Your experience allows you to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes, manage high-level government engagement, and deliver innovative yet compliant design solutions for large-scale projects.
Skills & Experience
- Proven leadership in design direction for major commercial construction projects.
- Demonstrated experience in the justice / corrections sector (prisons, detention centres, or similar high-security facilities).
- Exceptional ability to manage high-level government and executive stakeholder relationships.
- Strong commercial acumen and understanding of large-scale project governance.
- Willingness to travel interstate and to New Zealand as required.
- Lead one of the most significant corrections projects in the region.
- Operate at an executive stakeholder level with autonomy and influence.
- Competitive executive package plus travel allowances.
- Flexibility to be based in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane.
